Hygroscopic liquid hair roller

ABSTRACT

A hair roller is disclosed having a roller portion and a retaining clip. The roller has a support structure and a tubular moisture permeable hydrophobic cover. The retaining clip is omega-shaped having two halves and a hinge with a first spring and a ratchet mechanism that maintains the clip in closed. The roller support structure includes a core and two end caps or ends. The roller cover forms a cavity with support structure to enclose a first hygroscopic material. The retaining clip also includes a mass of hygroscopic material contained within a chamber formed between a frame and a second moisture permeable hydrophobic cover.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 62/829,138 filed April 4, 2019 and entitled Hygroscopic Liquid Hair Roller.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not applicable.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not applicable.

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present inventive concept relates to the field of hair rollers. More particularly, the invention relates to a hygroscopic hair roller used to dry and roll hair.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Hair treating devices are well known in the form of rollers which are typically cylindrical and sized so that a lock of hair may be wound thereabout for curling purposes. Such rollers have been made from a variety of material and have been used for both professional and home-use hair treatments.

Hair drying rollers have also been previously proposed as a means for drying hair simultaneously with other treatments such as curling, waving, body building and the like. Such apparatuses usually are provided with a heat component within the roller which is heated prior to use. The heat retaining component may be heated by immersing the roller into heated liquid or by electrically heating it with a heating element.

Rollers have also been designed having a desiccant material, such as silica gel, activated alumina and activated charcoal, therein which causes an exothermic reaction which generates heat, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 3,175,562 and 3,415,255. Once wet hair is wrapped about the roller the moisture within the hair is absorbed by the desiccant material thereby causing an exothermic reaction which creates heat that further dries the hair. The desiccant materials used in those rollers however are solids. With this construction the area of desiccant material exposed to moisture is limited to its exterior surface. This greatly reduces the capacity of the roller in absorbing moisture and producing heat. Desiccant material rollers have also been designed having a hollow roller body in which is positioned clay pellets having silicate embedded therein. The clay however limits the exposure of the silicate and therefore its function. Another problem associated with this hollow interior design roller is that the pellets naturally gather within the bottom portion of the roller interior. Hence, the top portion of the roller does not have the same absorbing and heating capacity as compared to the lower portion. This can cause the uneven drying and curling of the hair. Should the pellets be tightly packed into the interior to establish a generally uniform consistency only the outermost pellets would absorb moisture, similar to the solid roller previously described.

Desiccant material roller have also been designed having a high surface area material such as hook and loop type fastener material to which silica gel is adhered, as shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,299,467 which was invented by the present inventor. It has been discovered however that the surface of the silica gel to which the adhesive is applied does not absorb moisture, and thus again the efficiency of the silica gel is limited. A common problem with all of the previous hair drying roller attempts has been a limitation of the depth into which moisture penetrates into the moisture absorbent material within the rollers and thereby a limitation to the extent to which moisture can be absorbed from the hair. When using solid desiccant materials, moisture has to diffuse through the pores in between individual desiccant particles. The pores between particles tend to be very small. Moisture vapor must migrate through the stagnant air located between particles. This is a very slow process, particularly considering the desire to dry the hair at ambient temperatures and without the use of heat. At ambient temperature, the density of water vapor is only 0.804 g/ltr. A lock of hair after wetting and towel drying will typically contain 1 to 2 grams of water. The implication is that almost 2 liters of water vapor must diffuse through the small pores of a bed of desiccant particles which are filled with air. The forces promoting this diffusion are very small.

In an attempt to overcome the diffusion limitations of a ridged structure of granular material, the present inventor disclosed a hair drying curler roller in patent 5711324A. The improvement was for a drying curler having a curler body, a layer of moisture permeable material mounted about the curler body to form a cavity or chamber there between, and a mass of free-flowing, granular hair drying expediting material positioned within the chamber for flowing movement therein. The main problem with that structure is that once the hair is curled onto the roller and the retaining cover is mounted in place, the structure is thereafter ridged and there is no flowing or movement of the moisture absorbing granules. The problem of slow diffusion of moisture vapor remains and therefore limited drying.

Accordingly, it is seen that a need remains for a hair drying curler which can evenly, thoroughly, and efficiently dry hair without confining the movement of the wearer. It is to the provision of such therefore that the present invention is primarily directed.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a preferred from of the invention, the hair roller comprises a roller portion and a retaining clip removably coupleable to said roller portion. The roller portion has a support structure, a first porous hydrophobic cover coupled to the support structure to define a roller chamber, and a first mass of hygroscopic fluid material positioned within the roller chamber. The retaining clip has a frame, a second porous hydrophobic cover coupled to the frame to define a clip chamber, and a second mass of hygroscopic fluid material positioned within the clip chamber.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view of a hair roller embodying principles of the invention in a preferred form with a lock of hair.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a ratchet mechanism portion of the hair roller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the hair roller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a cross sectional view of the hair roller of FIG. 1.

FIG. 5 shows an end view of the hair roller of FIG. 1, shown with a portion enlarged for clarity.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF CERTAIN EMBODIMENTS Definitions

For purposes of the present disclosure, it is noted that spatially relative terms, such as “up,” “down,” “right,” “left,” “beneath,” “below,” “lower,” “above,” “upper” and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over or rotated, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, the exemplary term “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein interpreted accordingly.

Description of Selected Specific Embodiments

With reference next to the drawings, there is a shown a hair roller or hair drying curler apparatus 1 for curling and drying a lock of hair. The hair drying curler apparatus 1 has a tubular roller portion or roller 2 and a roller retaining clip or clip portion 4.

The roller 2 has a tubular support structure 8 and a tubular moisture permeable hydrophobic porous cover material 6 mounted onto the support structure 8. The moisture permeable cover 6 is joined about the periphery of the support structure at each end along seal joints 3 and 5.

The retaining clip 4 is omega-shaped having two halves, 9 and 11. A hinge 12 couples the two halves 9 and 11 of the clip to each other and facilitates rotational opening and closing motion. The clip 4 has a first spring 13 configured to force and hold the clip in an open position by rotating the two halves away from each other. Closing the clip by manually squeezing the two halves together will compress first spring 13.

The clip 4 is collapsible over roller 2 as an outer shell. It is put in place over the roller in a clam shell like configuration and squeezed together as illustrated in FIG. 2. The hinge 12 includes a ratchet mechanism 10 that maintains the clip in a closed position once the two halves are squeezed together. Ratchet mechanism 10 includes second spring 14, first ratchet member 16, second ratchet member 18 and release button 20. First ratchet member 16 is fixed to one of the clip halves and second ratchet member 18 is fixed to the other half. As illustrated in FIGS. 1-3, second spring 14 holds ratchet members 16 and 18 against each other such that their teeth are engaged so that the two halves cannot rotate relative to each other. FIGS. 1-3 shows the teeth having sloped edges configured to cause ratchet members 16 and 18 to slide away from each other and disengage to allow the two halves of the clip to rotate towards each other when they are manually squeezed together. Second spring 14 pushes ratchet member 18 towards ratchet member 16, thereby causing their teeth to repeatedly re-engage each other with each shift of the teeth as the clips rotate. Once rotation stops, the engaged teeth of ratchet members 16 and 18 hold the two halves 9 and 11 of the clip in a closed position (clip closed configuration).

The release button 20 is coupled to ratchet member 18. The pressing of button 20 compresses the second spring 14 by moving ratchet member 18 against spring 14 and away from ratchet member 16, causing the teeth of ratchet members 16 and 18 being disengaged in the process. With the teeth of ratchet members 16 and 18 disengaged, first spring 13 is then free to rotate the two halves 9 and 11 of the clip away from each other to their fully opened position (clip open configuration).

FIG. 4 shows a longitudinal cross section of the roller 2. The roller support structure 8 includes the core 30 of the roller and the two end caps or ends 31. As previously stated, tubular moisture permeable cover 6 is mounted over the support structure 8 and joined thereto about its periphery at each end along seal joints 3 and 5. Cover 6 forms a cavity or chamber 33 with support structure 8 to enclose first hygroscopic material 22 within the cavity 33.

Similar to the roller 2, the retaining clip 4 also includes a mass or layer of hygroscopic material 42. As shown in the cut away cross sectional view 50 of FIG. 5, the retaining clip 4 has a mass or layer of enclosed second hygroscopic material 42. Within each clip half, hygroscopic material 42 is enclosed by frame structure 48 and moisture permeable cover or cover material 46.

The hygroscopic materials 22 and 42 are preferably a liquid solution, fluid or at least a material wherein liquid water is relatively free to flow throughout the material to achieve and maintain concentration equilibrium. For example, the material may be a sulfonated tetrafluorethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer, such as that sold under the brand name Nafion™ by Chemours as a material that is typically used in hydrogen fuel cells. As a hygroscopic material wherein water is free to migrate as a liquid and distribute itself evenly though out, it is suitable for use in the disclosed invention. Regarding liquid hygroscopic solutions, one example would be a mixture of water and Calcium Chloride (CaCl2:H2O) or other solution composition. The salt concentration within in the solution depends on its moisture content. It should be understood that the hygroscopic solution may be suspended in a soft porous absorbent material such as a rubber sponge within covers 6 and 46 for convenience. As such, all these alternative materials for the hygroscopic material should be considered to be a fluid. Covers 6 and 46 also may be made of a porous hydrophobic material such as nano-porous Teflon (PTFE, example manufactured by Porex Corporation). Other membrane materials such as those used for reverse osmoses are also suitable. An alternative to a salt solution is a hygroscopic aqueous based gelled liquid or polymer.

The improvements disclosed hereby include the ability to contain and use liquid hydroscopic solutions for drying hair without leakage. Moisture freely migrates into and out of the solution as a vapor through the hydrophobic membrane materials or covers. Moisture vapor can pass through the micro/nano pores of the hydrophobic membrane or covers but the liquid solution cannot because of the solution's inability to wet the membrane material. Thus, the use of a liquid hygroscopic solution is enabled. The performance of the roller is improved because of the ability of the solution to quickly diffuse absorbed moisture throughout its volume and thereby maintain optimal hygroscopic performance for hair drying at the surface of the roller that is in contact with hair. Once a roller and clip have been used, the resultant water latent set can be regenerated by heating them to a desired temperature to drive out a prescribed amount of water.

As an alternative to a nano/micro porous hydrophobic membrane, material membranes such as those used for direct osmosis membranes are also suitable. Direct osmosis membranes are noted for their ability to remove salt from water. The calcium chloride as well as other salt water solutions are attractive for use as a hygroscopic liquid component of the invention disclosed herein. Whereas direct osmosis membranes will allow water to pass and not salt ions, they are suitable for the hygroscopic solution containment function disclosed herein.

It should be understood that the roller portion may be made of hygroscopic material alone, i.e., without a supporting structure, as it may be rolled into a cylindrical form to be used in a conventional roller form, or may be used as a generally planar sheets to dry hair extending between two such sheets or layers.

The term concentration equilibrium means a vapor pressure of water contained in the solution increases with the amount of water in the solution. As the partial pressure of water vapor in the air (humidity related) goes up or down, the amount of water in the solution will go up or down respectively so that the pressure of water in the solution is the same as the partial pressure of water in the air. In this context the pressure of water in the solution refers to the pressure at which water wants to evaporate from the solution, a function of salt concentration and temperature. For example pure water wants to evaporate at 14.7 psi at 100 degrees C. and the humidity just above the pot will be 100%. Humidity level is a function of the amount of water (partial pressure) in the air and the air's temperature. In other words, it has a water content level such that the vapor pressure of the contained water equals the water partial vapor pressure of the air in its immediate environment.

While this invention has been described in detail with particular references to the preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that many modifications, additions and deletions, in addition to those expressly recited, may be made thereto without departure from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the following claims. 

1. A hair roller comprising: a roller portion having a tubular support including a porous hydrophobic cover, and a first mass of hygroscopic fluid material supported by said tubular support and at least partially enclosed by said porous hydrophobic cover.
 2. The hair roller of claim 1 wherein said tubular support includes a core and two oppositely disposed end caps coupled to said core.
 3. The hair roller of claim 2 wherein said end caps have a first select diameter, and wherein said core has a second select diameter smaller than said first select diameter.
 4. The hair roller of claim 3 wherein said porous hydrophobic cover is in the form of a cylinder having a third select diameter conforming to said first select diameter, and wherein said first mass of hygroscopic fluid material is contained between said hydrophobic cover and said core.
 5. The hair roller of claim 3 wherein said porous hydrophobic cover is in the form of a cylinder, and wherein said core, said end caps and said hydrophobic cover from a chamber, and wherein said first mass of hygroscopic fluid material is contained between said chamber.
 6. The hair roller of claim 1 further comprising a retaining clip configured to at least partially overlay said roller portion.
 7. The hair roller of claim 6 wherein said retaining clip includes two halves joined by a hinge.
 8. The hair roller of claim 7 wherein said hinge includes a first spring biasing said two halves away from each other.
 9. The hair roller of claim 8 wherein said hinge also includes a position retainer for maintaining the relative position of said two halves relative to each other.
 10. The hair roller of claim 9 wherein said position retainer is a ratchet mechanism having a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member configured to releasably mesh with said first ratchet member, a spring biasing said first ratchet member towards said second ratchet member, and a release separating said first ratchet member from said second ratchet member.
 11. The hair roller of claim 10 wherein each said retaining clip half includes an outer frame and a cover coupled to said outer frame to define a retaining clip chamber, and a second mass of hygroscopic fluid material contained within said retaining clip chamber.
 12. A hair roller comprising a roller portion and a retaining clip removably coupleable to said roller portion; said roller portion having a support structure, a first porous hydrophobic cover coupled to said support structure to define a roller chamber, and a first mass of hygroscopic fluid material positioned within said roller chamber, said retaining clip having a frame, a second porous hydrophobic cover coupled to said frame to define a clip chamber, and a second mass of hygroscopic fluid material positioned within said clip chamber.
 13. The hair roller of claim 12 wherein said support structure includes a core and two oppositely disposed end caps mounted to said cure.
 14. The hair roller of claim 13 wherein said end caps have a first select diameter, and wherein said core has a second select diameter smaller than said first select diameter.
 15. The hair roller of claim 14 wherein said porous hydrophobic cover is in the form of a cylinder having a third select diameter conforming to said first select diameter.
 16. The hair roller of claim 12 wherein said retaining clip includes two halves joined by a hinge.
 17. The hair roller of claim 16 wherein said hinge includes a first spring biasing said two halves away from each other.
 18. The hair roller of claim 17 wherein said hinge also includes a position retainer for maintaining the relative position of said two halves relative to each other.
 19. The hair roller of claim 18 wherein said position retainer is a ratchet mechanism having a first ratchet member, a second ratchet member configured to releasably mesh with said first ratchet member, a spring biasing said first ratchet member towards said second ratchet member, and a release separating said first ratchet member front said second ratchet member.
 20. A hair roller comprising: a hygroscopic material containing liquid water, the liquid water being free to migrate throughout the material to achieve and maintain a concentration equilibrium.
 21. The hair roller of claim 20 further comprising a support structure coupled to said hygroscopic material.
 22. The hair roller of claim 20 further comprising a retaining clip having a hygroscopic material containing liquid water. 